Wald- und Wiesenroute

From the relaxing forest area to bike-friendly Herford

From Bad Salzuflen, the approximately 22 km long forest and meadow route in the surrounding area is worthwhile. Whether for a brisk circular route on a racing bike or an extended half-day tour. This cycle tour enchants nature and culture lovers. Highlights of the cycle route worth experiencing are the paths in the green, shady forest, along the Finnebach and Werre rivers, as well as the cultural offerings in Herford and back at the finish in Bad Salzuflen.

Switch off and discover the salt town with curiosity

We start the forest and meadow route at the adventure graduation works ensemble in Bad Salzuflen, the historic landmark of the salt town. Thousands of people visit the three graduation towers every year to enjoy the special brine experience. In addition to the brine healing springs, the charming spa town of Bad Salzuflen has also been awarded the title of Kneipp and allergy-friendly health resort.

On the paths of the Salzufler Kleinbahn

For the first few kilometers, we follow the beautifully laid out, level cycle and hiking paths along the Kurparksee lake and through the landscaped garden. A historic narrow-gauge railroad used to run parallel to Extersche Straße. We pedal along this railroad line past birds chirping happily in aviaries or the fallow deer enclosure a little further away.
The forest restaurant "Zur Loose" is on the left at the edge of the forest. Here we turn left into the romantic Finnebach valley. Especially in midsummer, you can feel the cool forest climate in the stream valley. Gently ascending, we follow the little-used country road to the Heerhof golf course.
At the golf course parking lot, we follow a hiking trail between dense woodland on the left and the golf course on the right. If you are riding a road bike on the circular route, we recommend staying on Finnebachstraße and turning left onto the road "Zur Loose" and "Im Kuhnholt" to join the road "Eckernkamp" on the right.

Unforgettable photo moment under the viaduct

On the cycle path, we discover an impressive viaduct that connects today's A2 freeway. It is one of the oldest highway bridges in Germany. Built from red Eifel sandstone, it was officially opened to highway traffic in 1939. The freeway bridge was widened to 38 meters in 1996 as part of the freeway expansion. It has been a listed building since 1988.
Photo enthusiasts stand in front of or under this architectural masterpiece.
After the photo break, we pedal hard for the ascent to "Vlothoer Straße".
On arrival at the top, we enjoy the fantastic view over the undulating, wooded region and can take a break at the Waldesrand restaurant or visit the Herford Bismarck Tower, around 900 m away.
At the Werre, we cross the river and turn right into Bergertorwall.

Discover Herford on two wheels

We cycle counter-clockwise through Herford. We start in the Neustadt district and then ride through Radewig, Herford's oldest district, before reaching the Altstadt district. We then cycle back to Bad Salzuflen along the northern bank of the Werre.

Trippel-trappel on the rampart

After turning into Bergertorwall, we discover the 3.5 km long ramparts on two wheels. Cyclists can take a wonderful stroll along them and marvel at the green, enchanted riverbank. Water birds chirp cheerfully towards us or are busy preening their feathers.
New perspectives open up at Steintorwall, Aawiesenpark and along the Stadtgraben.
On the right is the Daniel-Pöppelmann-Haus. It's worth getting off your bike to visit the exhibitions of the Herford Art Association. The art and history museum also contains important exhibits on the history of the Hanseatic town of Herford.
After visiting the museum, we get back on our bikes and cross the River Aa. Now we follow the road "Unter den Linden".

Not without a detour to the cycle-friendly Hanseatic city

Tip: Take the opportunity to visit the historic, cycle-friendly city center and take a detour from the original cycle route. It's worth it!
You'll discover history at Wilhelmsplatz! The Saxon king Wittekind was considered a resistance fighter against the Christian faith and Charlemagne. To mark his conversion, the sculptor Walter Kruse created the Wittekind monument in 1959.

Contemporary history, culinary delights and the Damenstift

The market hall opposite the town hall is a tempting place for culinary delights and shopping. Just a few steps separate us from Herford Minster. The hall church is one of the largest late Romanesque churches in Westphalia. The Herford convent used the cathedral church for prayer. As the women's convent achieved independence from the empire, the Herford prince-abbesses were represented at the district councils of the Lower Rhine-Westphalian Imperial District of the Holy Roman Empire. The convent was also a member of the Rhenish Imperial Prelates' College and therefore also attended imperial diets.
Unfortunately, the convent fell apart and was transferred to the Prussian county of Ravensberg in 1803. The transformation into a college for men led to the abolition of the women's convent.

American star architect Frank Gehry left his mark

River lovers can watch the Aa flow into the Werre on the banks of the Rischmüller. And marvel at the Marta Museum opposite on the banks of the Aa. Star architect Frank Gehry designed this sophisticated building, which houses temporary art exhibitions.
In Brüderstraße, not far from the Aa, you can see unique half-timbered buildings. You should particularly take a look at house no. 26. It is one of the most artistically rich, late Gothic half-timbered houses in Westphalia.

From the Hanseatic city to Bad Salzuflen

After the eventful cycling excursion through Herford, we can reflect on our impressions on the popular cycle path along the Werre at ground level. The numerous paddlers on the Werre that come towards us are also nice to watch.
Back in the Bad Salzuflen vacation region, we enjoy refreshing drinks and the rich, tasty cuisine during a break. We look forward to getting back on our bikes with you soon for an unforgettable cycle tour or to set off on one of the region's popular hiking trails.